SALE OF BOOK BANNED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 10

SALE OF BOOK BANNED

N.Z. Prohibition On “Borstal Boy”

• (New Zeaiana Press Association) HASTINGS, January 14. Brendon Behan’s book “Borstal Boy" has been banned from sale in New Zealand on the ground that it contravenes the Indecent Publications Act. The book was not submitted to the Censorship Advisory Committee. “It was obvious it contravened the act,” said Mr Robert Duncan, of the publications section of the Customs Department, in Wellington today. Shortly after this action was taken in November advice was received that the book had also been banned in. Australia. The chairman of the New Zealand Booksellers’ Association (Mr Roy Parsons) said in Wellington today that the matter had been taken up directly with the publishers, and the main supply had not been forwarded to New Zealand.

“A small number of copies of the book have probably gone on sale, but the main supplies will not even reach the booksellers' hands,” he said.

Probably no more than a dozen copies of “Borstal Boy” have been sold in Christchurch, according to local booksellers. One large bookshop had received one copy, on special order for a library, and had ordered another two.

“It’s not the sort of book that would have been very popular anyway,” said one bookseller. “It might have a reasonable sale to a fairly intellectual audience.” His shop had sold about six, he said, and there was another copy on hand for a customer. “I’ve read it myself and quite enjoyed it,” he said. “I didn’t find it vicious or spiteful. We have had quite a number of inquiries for it, mid had been thinking of ordering some more.”